MANHATTAN, Kan. – The eyes of the college football world will be on Kansas State as the Wildcats kick off the 2025 college football season with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic against Iowa State kicking off at 11 a.m. (CT), 5 p.m. (GMT) and be televised by ESPN, the network announced Tuesday during the Disney Ad Sales Upfront.
 
This is the first time since 2010 against UCLA that K-State will open its season on ESPN. This is just the second time in the 129-year history of the program that the Wildcats will play abroad (1992 in Tokyo, Japan vs. Nebraska).
 
The Wildcats and Cyclones are meeting on a neutral-site field for just the third time in the 108-game series. Kansas State took both games of a two-game series at Arrowhead Stadium in 2009 and 2010.
 
Game times for Kansas State’s non-conference games in 2025 will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

When you’re the best wide receiver in college football, you can expect to get offered some good NIL deals, and that’s what Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith just secured for himself.

Smith revealed on Instagram that he locked in a new deal with the Mark Wahlberg Auto Group.

No financial details were revealed about the arrangement between the Buckeyes star and the car dealer, but it undoubtedly helped increase Smith’s already-lucrative position in the NIL market.

Smith comes into the 2025 college football season as the No. 3 most valuable player in the national NIL player rankings, according to On3 Sports.

That coveted placement also includes an expert appraisal of around $4 million when considering how much Smith should be able to command as a player based off his production last year.

Smith emerged as the best playmaker at the wide receiver position in college football last season as a true freshman, helping Ohio State to its first national championship in a decade.

The former five-star prospect caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and scored 15 touchdowns a year ago.

Reports emerged early this offseason that Smith was on the receiving end of some other major NIL deals from other schools in an attempt to lure him away from Ohio State, but he’s still in place with the Buckeyes even after some major changes to the team’s offense.

And his profile in Ohio State’s offense should only grow this season as the team undergoes a prominent quarterback change, magnifying the importance he’ll have in helping whoever succeeds Will Howard at the position.

Wherever the Buckeyes go, it’ll be Jeremiah Smith who helps get them there, and wherever he goes, some serious NIL money should also follow.

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Miami football landed a big-time commitment on Tuesday, as coach Mario Cristobal earned a pledge from the highest-ranked recruit of his career.

Five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1-ranked player in the 2026 class according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings, chose the Hurricanes over Georgia, Oregon and Ohio State on Tuesday.

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“Miami excites me a lot because they have an offensive-line oriented coach in Mario Cristobal,” Cantwell told On3 recently. “I like Coach Cristobal a lot. I think Coach Mirabal is a top-five O-line coach in the country. Even that could be a little like subjective where in the top five it would be. He does a fantastic job. He does a great developing (sic). They always seem to have the right guys on the offensive line.”

Cantwell has a 6-foot-7, 325-pound frame, according to his 247Sports page. The Nixa High School product from Nixa, Missouri, was also the Missouri state champion in shot put and discus. Cantwell comes from an athletic background, as his dad, Christian Cantwell, won the silver medal in shot put at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. His mother, Teri Steer, was a thrower at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Cantwell reportedly is receiving quite the name, image and likeness package for his commitment. According to a report from Eli Lederman, the national recruiting and college football reporter for ESPN, Miami has an NIL deal in place with Cantwell worth more than $2 million annually.

The Hurricanes’ 2026 class now ranks ninth nationally, as they have 10 commitments, four of whom are rated as four stars or higher by 247Sports.

As the season progressed for Oklahoma into the postseason, the Sooners have been without freshman pitcher Sophia Bordi. Head coach Patty Gasso announced Bordi was not with the program at the moment but no reason was provided. On Tuesday, the player herself explained her absence from the team in a written statement.

“With all the articles and rumors coming out, I thought I would address this situation myself,” Bordi said. “First, I appreciate Coach Gasso for keeping my information private. I made the decision myself to step away from school and softball for the rest of the season because I needed to take time to work on my personal/mental health.

“This was something that I felt needed to be dealt with back home with my family’s support, and also so I wasn’t a distraction to the team in the middle of the season. I appreciate everyone’s concerns but wish that information wasn’t being falsely spread the way it was. With that being said, the season is still going and my girls are still working. I’m always watching and cheering them on no matter what.”

Bordi played high school softball at Haddon Heights (NJ), where she was a five-star prospect. She was the No. 11 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to On3’s Softball America. Nobody from the state of New Jersey was ranked higher than her, also coming in as the No. 5 pitcher.

There was a reclassification from Bordi in order to join the Sooners a year early. Originally a part of the 2025 recruiting class, Bordi wanted to get a head start on her college career. However, she never got into the circle before leaving Norman and heading back home.

“Um, well, she’s not here on campus,” Gasso said on May 6. “She went back home, and that’s something I don’t have the privilege to talk about. It’s more of a personal situation. So, she did not finish the season out with us.”

Oklahoma continues on its journey in hopes of winning a fifth-straight national championship. Norman will host a regional, beginning on Friday. Boston University will be the first opponent, with one of Cal or Omaha waiting on the other side, depending on results.

The Sooners will enter as massive favorites to advance and eventually host the Norman Super Regional. Alabama is the potential national seed waiting for them on the other side, setting up a matchup we have seen multiple times over the years.

Five-star prospect Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the Class of 2026, committed to Miami during a ceremony held at Nixa (Missouri) High School on Tuesday. The Hurricanes won a heavyweight recruiting battle against Georgia, Oregon and Ohio State to secure his services. 

Securing Cantwell’s commitment was an 11th hour coup for the Hurricanes, as Georgia was widely viewed as the favorite leading into his decision. Cantwell even took a visit to Athens the weekend of May 10 and has not been on Miami’s campus since March. 

Cantwell’s recruitment did undergo an interesting shakeup in April when he signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to 247Sports. Rosenhaus reportedly wanted to secure Cantwell a three-year NIL deal with an average annual value of over $2 million, though representatives from Cantwell’s camp maintain football fit is the most important factor. 

Regardless, the 6-foot-7.5, 325-pound Cantwell is (quite literally) a massive get for Mario Cristobal and his staff. He was the 2024 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and a finalist for Gatorade National Player of the Year after starting at left tackle for Nixa. 

Cantwell is also a two-time Missouri Class 5A State Champion in the shot put and was the 2023-24 Gatorade Missouri Boys Track & Field Player of the Year. His versatility and athleticism could translate into early playing time at the collegiate level, according to his 247Sports scouting report: 

“Tall, big-framed offensive tackle prospect with a stellar athletic profile and pedigree who’s an advanced mover at this stage of development. Quick off the ball and flashes hand violence and POA power. Bounce in his step and plays with active feet. Capable bender who gets hips involved. Further ahead as a run blocker than in pass protection, but displays encouraging footwork in the latter with immense potential in that category. More catcher than puncher in pass pro, but strength is there and power capacity is possibly limitless. Missouri state champion in shot put and discus, Nike Outdoor Nationals competitor. Rare multi-sport profile and genetic background (son of two former Olympics throws athletes). Can get more consistent use of length/extension. May ultimately possess a higher ceiling on the right side. Projects as a high-major multi-year starter with outstanding physical tools and athletic/genetic profile that suggests long-term early-round NFL Draft potential.”

Cantwell is the first five-star offensive lineman to commit to Miami since 2023, when the Hurricanes signed current starting tackle Francis Mauigoa. With Cantwell in the boat, Miami’s 2026 class also jumps all the way to No. 9 in the 247Sports Team Composite rankings as the Hurricanes push for their third top-10 class in the past four years.   

Though NCAA rules prevent him from making a public comment on the commitment, Cristobal was clearly thrilled with the news. A video taken from the ACC spring meetings on Tuesday shows the Miami coach celebrating the announcement while on the phone. 

A Hurricane spring 

It’s been a big spring for Miami as the Hurricanes enter a pivotal year under Cristobal. Though Cantwell won’t arrive on campus until December at the earliest, he is the latest win for a Miami team that’s excelled in the talent acquisition department. 

In fact, few schools dominated the spring transfer window like Miami. The Hurricanes were either heavily involved with, or landed, most of the top prospects to hit the portal in April. They added key reinforcements to the wide receiver room by signing Keelan Marion, a four-star transfer from BYU who could also make a difference in the return game, and Tony Johnson from Cincinnati. 

Miami further bolstered the talent around Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck by snagging running back CharMar Brown.  Brown was the 2024 Jerry Rice Award winner after rushing for 1,181 yards and 15 touchdowns for a North Dakota State team that won the FCS national championship. 

Miami also added Tennessee safety transfer Jakobe Thomas, who was in the mix to start for the Vols, and Rutgers linebacker Mohamed Toure to bolster its defense. Though Toure missed both the 2022 and 2024 seasons with injury, he had 93 total tackles and 4.5 sacks while starting eight games in 2023. 

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